The Thief of Lanwyn Manor - (Cornwall Novels) by Sarah E Ladd (Paperback)

Sarah Ladd's books never disappoint. The author has a way of drawing the reader into Regency era England with its unique history, sights, sounds, tastes, and events. This plot is driven by beautifully sketched characters and has a bit of underlying gothic mystery and suspense to keep it moving at a nice pace. The story takes place in a copper mining town and it was a pleasant boost to my knowledge base of early 1800 England since I know nothing about the mining history there. This is book 2 in The Cornwall Novels series but can be read as a stand-alone. If you enjoy historical romance (especially those set in Regency era), you will love this book. Julia is a forthright, loyal young woman who comes to Lanwyn Manor to help her cousin during her pregnancy. Isaac is a hard-working mine captain - faithful, loyal, quiet but mature with a deeply-feeling soul. Julia has a past she wants to run from and Isaac feels restless while trying to find his place in the world. Thievery, anonymous threats, betrayal, and mine accidents all converge to give both Isaac and Julia a chance for freedom in love and a sense of worth. I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

THIEF OF LANWYN MANOR is about a woman trying to find her path and follow her heart amid the complexities of family. It's set in a mining town in trouble, with a mystery that brings danger, likable characters, a sweet romance, and some twists and turns that are sure to entertain. Recommended to sweet historical romance fans. I loved the hero, Isaac Blake, and the heroine, Julie Twethewey, from the start! They were both fairly steady individuals with their own hopes and dreams, but who were putting those aside as they took on other responsibilities. They're not always surrounded by those with good intentions and some of the characters felt a little flat to me when I wanted them more strongly drawn. That wasn't the case with the main characters, as they're vividly drawn. I loved how their relationship started and then grew despite the challenges they faced. It was a sweet romance with friendship and care at the center. The setting was interesting, as was the plot. It's the first story I've read that was involved this much in mining, although we only get snapshots of what that entails. The inspirational element wasn't really present in this story, so I'd definitely recommend it to the general market. I thought the whole premise intriguing and there were enough twists that made me wonder who could be trusted. Towards the end it got a bit dramatic - maybe more so than realistic, but it definitely made for an entertaining read. In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this story. The characters and romance were lovely and my favorite part. If you're a fan of the author, this genre, or historical romance in general with a touch of suspense and danger, then I'd recommend this one. Content: Clean Source: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E Ladd is a wonderful historical romance. Loved the Cornwall early 19th-century setting where readers find Julia visiting Lanwyn Manor, hoping to find a cure for a broken heart. She finds a whole lot more! The characters are well defined and well rounded, with attributes and flaws and they are either likable, relatable, or despicable. They are colorful and riveting--an overbearing aunt, insolent house staff, a sweet cousin bedridden with a difficult pregnancy, and twin brother mine owners, who ultimately compete for Julia's attention. The storytelling is excellent and is replete with lots of twists and turns. There is a mystery afoot in the somewhat gothic manor as well, which helps to keep the interest high. The author has a lovely way with words as she describes the scenery, the homes, the customs, and the mining industry of the 1800s. I enjoyed the book and readers who love a little mystery mixed in with romance set in an English countryside will not want to miss The Thief of Lanwyn Manor. I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor is about Julia Twethewey,a young lady who travels to the mining town of Goldweth to stay with her aunt and uncle at their home, Lanwyn Manor, in Cornwall, England. She has left her home for a time to escape humiliation after being betrayed by a man she believed loved her. Upon arriving, she is accosted at gunpoint by men trying to rob her, but she is rescued from harm by Isaac Blake, a young man whom she finds it difficult to get out of her mind. She quickly learns that the townspeople do not like her uncle since he closed his mine putting much of the town out of work, and that they might possibly wish him harm. A series of strange events occur at Lanwyn Manor following the attack on Julia; valuables go missing, strange noises come from the attic, cloaked figures escape into the forest at night. Soon, it becomes clear that Julia herself may be in danger if she stays in Goldweth. But as much as she wants to go home, she is drawn to Isaac Blake and she doesn’t want to abandon the possibility of a future with him. But before any future plans can be made, Julia and Isaac must uncover the truth about the thief at Lanwyn Manor. As I started reading The Thief of Lanwyn Manor, I thought it started a bit slowly. But a few chapters in, it picked up, and I got drawn in. The story was full of action, emotion, scheming, deception, and mystery. Once I was into the story, I read most of the book in one day. I couldn’t wait to find out who was behind everything. Overall, I very much enjoyed reading The Thief of Lanwyn Manor. *I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed how there was action right from the beginning! It was a great start to this Regency novel. Set in Cornwall, in 1818, there are definite parallels to the Poldark family saga. The backdrop is copper mining with a great deal of emphasis on the differences between the richer and the poorer highlighting those who care and give back and those who focus mainly on themselves and theirs with scant regard for others. The author's characters are well-formed and are relatable, so it wasn't long before I was invested in the direction their stories took as the mystery built. I did find that certain characters became a little tedious as they repeated themselves so many times that it became somewhat of a distraction to the thread of the story. While there's a definite beginning and end to the story of the goings-on at Lanwyn Manor, the author has also ended it in a way that piques curiosity and one does wonder the direction her next book will take. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. My thanks to #Netgalley, the author and Thomas Nelson.

“Isaac Blake regretted his actions, but had there been any other choice?” - Opening line of “Thief of Lanwyn Manor” by Sarah E. Ladd Having thoroughly enjoyed “The Governess of Penwythe Hall”, I so looked forward to returning to this cast of characters in Sarah E. Ladd’s “Thief of Lanwyn Manor”. The story begins as Julia, the eldest of the children in Jac and Delia’s charge, arrives in a new town. If you haven’t read the first book, whilst I recommend it, you won’t feel left behind, this one stands alone! Julia, looking to heal a broken heart in a new environment, travels to care for her pregnant, and unwell, cousin. As she waits to travel the last leg of her journey to Lanwyn Manor, she’s held up by thieves and rescued by local Isaac Blake. Upon arrival at the manor, she is told of more strange happenings at the house. Her aunt isn’t enjoying country life and, along with her youngest daughter, is desperate to leave. Her uncle, however, is weighing up what to do with his recently inherited mine. Closed until he decides, the village is unhappy with the family as many of them are desperate for the work. Isaac runs one of the other local mines and is the younger twin brother of landowner, Matthew. Julie’s aunt believes a match between Matthew and Julia would be ideal but Julia connects with Isaac’s humility and intelligence. Down to earth, Isaac is integrated into the village and friends with many of the miners. As strange things continue happening, he comes alongside Julie in trying to work out the mystery of Lanwyn Manor. I love the cast of supporting characters in this one and, whilst the mystery is resolved by the end of the novel, I’d love to spend more time in this village! Guessing what was really going on was entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey from start to finish! If you enjoy a beautifully written historical romance with a mystery, this one is for you! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!